Stove construction



Dec. 23, 1952 H. M. REEVES STOVE CONSTRUCTION NVEQNTQHM erbemi'. meevesFiled Aug. 27, 1948 qfl-rrommav/ Patented Dec. 23, 1952 STOVECONSTRUCTION Herbert M. Reeves, Kankakee, Ill., assignor to FlorenceStove Company, Gardner, Mass., a corporation of MassachusettsApplication August 27, 1948, Serial No. 46,405

3 Claims. 1

The invention concerns improvements in the construction of cookstoves,and more particularly to cookstoves of the. type in which the stove bodyis made up of a chassis and panels fabricated from sheet metal.

One object of the invention is to simplify the assembly of the endpanels with the chassis and provide for removal and replacement of thepanels without requiring disconnection of the stove or its movement awayfrom the wall or other structure against which it is installed.

Another object is to provide fastening means for securing the end panelsto the chassis, which means is very simple in construction, quick andeasy acting, and which minimizes the stresses imposed on the panels bothin shipment and in use, thereby avoiding damage to the enamel coating ofthe panels.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodimentillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a cookstove embodying thefeatures of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cookstove chassis.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the chassis and one end paneltaken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on a horizontal plane substantially onthe line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of one of the end panels and the meansfor securing it to the chassis.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a horizontal planesubstantially on the line 6-6 of Fi 1.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understoodthat I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific formdisclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

For purposes of illustration, the invention has been shown as applied toa table-type cookstove having a body I0 (Fig. 1) supported on a base IIand adapted to be mounted flush against an upright wall l2. The stovebody It) comprises a rigid generally rectangular frame or chassis l3(Fig. 2) closed at opposite ends by sheet metal end panels I4. Thepanels M as well as other exposed parts of the stove are usuallyfinished with a coating of vitreous enamel.

In the exemplary stove the chassis I3 is constructed largely of sheetmetal stampings designed to provide maximum strength and rigidity withminimum weight. As shown in Fig. 2, the chassis [3 comprises a fiat rearmember l5 and a front member l6 formed with large laterally spacedopenings IT for the oven, broiler and utility compartments of the stove.The front and rear members are connected at opposite ends adjacent theirupper edges by elongated end members l8, herein shown as channel-shapedin cross-section. Other end members l9, preferably of Z-shapedcross-section, connect the front and rear members adjacent their loweredges. It will be understood of course that the various members of thechassis are welded or otherwise secured together to form a rigidstructure.

In accordance with the invention, the chassis l3 and the end panels [4are constructed so as to facilitate the assembly of the end panels withand their removal from the chassis, and to minimize the strains imposedon the panels when assembled with the chassis. The panels H, except forbeing shaped for right and left-hand mounting, respectively, are alikein construction. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 of thedrawings,the panels 14 are generally rectangular and each has its upper edgeextended as at [8' adjacent the rear edge of the panel to provide asupport and end closure for a splasher back l9. Preferably the panelsare made somewhat wider than the front to rear dimensions of the chassisl3 and are mounted so as to project at the rear thereof to define withthe rear chassis member [5 and the wall l2, an insulating space forprotection of the wall.

As herein shown, each panel M comprises a generally rectangular faceportion 20 with integral flanges along its four side edges. Thus eachpanel has a flange 2| at its upper edge, a flange 22 at its front edge,a flange 23 at its rear edge, and a flange 24 at its lower edge. Theseflanges extend substantially at right angle to the face of the panel,and the flanges 2 I, 22' and 24 have their marginal edges turnedinwardly into a plane spaced from and substantially parallel to the faceof the panel.

In addition to stiffening the panel M, the flanges 2l24 serve as a partof the means for securing the panels to the chassis 13. To this end thechassis is provided at its front corners with anchoring members hereinshown as vertically disposed forwardly projecting flanges forcooperation with the flanges 22 of the panels, the flanges 25, in thisinstance being formed at opposite ends of the front chassis member I6.The end members I8 of the chassis are likewise provided withhorizontally disposed upwardly projecting flanges 26 for cooperationwith the panel flanges 2|. The flanges 26 extend along the upper edgesof the end members and are disposed in the same planes as the companionflanges 25 and are thus positioned for engagement with the panel flanges22 and 23 when the panels are assembled with the chassis.

Cooperating fastening elements are provided on one of the panel flangesand on the chassis for securing each panel to the chassis adjacent itsrear edges and for maintaining the front panel and chassis flanges ininterlocking engagement. The fastening elements at each end of the stovebody include an upwardly projecting hook element carried by an elongatedfastening member 3| secured to the end member l8. As herein shown, themember 3| is channel-shaped in crosssection and is spot welded at oneend to the end member I8. The hook element I6 is formed as an upstandinglug on the opposite or free end of the fastening member and is spacedrearwardly of the chassis so as to aline with the rear flange 23 of thepanel I4 when the latter is assembled with the chassis. The rear endportion of the member 3| is offset outwardly from the member I8 so as tolocate the hook element 30 closely adjacent the plane of the chassisflanges 25 and 26. A diagonal brace 32 extending between the free end ofthe fastening member and a gusset plate 33 anchored in the lower forwardcorner of the chassis assists in holding the fastening member rigid.

For cooperation with the hook elements 30, each of the panels I4 isprovided with a suitable hook-engaging element. As shown in Figs. 3 and5, the hook-engaging element is formed by offsetting inwardly a section35 of the rear panel flange 23 and cutting away the lower portion of thesection to form a slot 36 positioned to receive the hook.

To facilitate the engagement of the hook element 30 in the slot 36, theelement 30 is tapered to a relatively sharp point 31. Preferably thistaper is formed by inclining the rear edg 38 of the element as shown inFig. 5. The inclined edge serves the additional purpose of urging thepanel rearwardly and thus establishing a flrm locking engagement betweenthe front flange 22 of the panel and the companion flange 25 of thechassis when the panel is assembled therewith.

With the construction above described, an end panel may be assembledwith the chassis by simply hooking the front flange 22 over the flange25 while the panel is held in a slightly elevated position, and thenshifting the panel downwardly to engage the upper flange 2| with theflange 26 and the hook element 30 in the slot 36. The limit position ofthe panel is determined by the flange of the cross-member I9 upon whichthe lower flange 24 of the panel is adapted to rest, and by engagementof the inwardly turned edge portion of the flange 22 with the upper webof the end member I8. The panel may then be permanently secured to thestove by means of screws or bolts inserted through the member I9 andflange 24 and through the flange 26 and panel flange 2|. Thelast-mentioned screws or bolts are concealed from sight by the cookingor working top plate 40, which in the final stove assembly is supportedon the cross-members I8.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides astove chassis and panel construction of novel and advantageouscharacter. The chassis and the panels embody coacting fastening means ofa very simple character, which greatly simplifies the assembly of theparts and which provides an effective vibrationless connection whileimposing a minimum of stress upon the panels. Damage to the enamelcoating of the panels is thus greatly reduced in the handling of thestoves during shipment or installation.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a stove chassis having generally rectangularfront and rear members connected at opposite ends adjacent their upperedges by elongated end members, vertically disposed forwardly projectingflanges at opposite ends of the front member, horizontally disposedupwardly projecting flanges extending along the upper edges of said endmembers, end panels having inwardly turned flanges along their front andupper edges positioned for cooperative engagement respectively with thevertical and horizontal flanges of said chassis members, a fasteningmember at each end of the chassis presenting an upwardly projecting hookelement, and a member rigid with each panel having a downwardly facingslot positioned to receive the associated hook element as the panel isshifted downwardly to engage the cooperating flanges, said hook elementhaving a tapered nose portion engageable with the slotted member andtending to urge the panel rearwardly of the chassis whereby to firmlylock the cooperating panel and chassis flanges together.

2. The combination with a stove chassis having generally rectangularfront and rear members connected at opposite ends adjacent their upperedges by elongated end members, vertically disposed forwardly projectingflanges at opposite ends of the front member, horizontally disposedupwardly projecting flanges extending along the upper edges of said endmembers, end panels having inwardly turned flanges along their front andupper edges positioned for cooperative engagement respectively with thevertical and horizontal flanges of said chassis members, a fasteningmember at each end of the chassis presenting an upwardly projecting hookelement, a member rigid with each panel having a downwardly facing slotpositioned to receive the associated hook element as the panel isshifted downwardly to engage the cooperating flanges, and cross-membersextending between the ends of said front and back chassis membersadjacent their lower edges defining supports for said panels.

3. The combination with a stove chassis having generally rectangularfront and rear members connected at opposite ends adjacent their upperedges by elongated end members, vertically disposed forwardly projectingflanges at opposite ends of the front member, horizontally disposedupwardly projecting flanges extending along the upper edges of said endmembers, end panels having inwardly turned flanges along their front andupper edges position for cooperative engagement respectively with thevertical and horizontal flanges of said chassis members, a fasteningmember at each end of the chassis presenting an upwardly projecting hookelement, a member rigid with each panel having a downwardly facing slotpositioned to receive the associated hook element as the panel isshifted downwardly to engage the cooperating flanges, cross-membersextending between the ends of the front and back chassis membersadjacent their lower edges, said panels having inturned flangesextending along their lower edges resting on said cross-members, andfasteners rigidly securing the last-mentioned flanges to saidcross-members.

HERBERT M. REEVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Schaffert Nov. 7, 1911 SielofiMay 11, 1926 Rogers Mar. 1, 1932 Pickup July 24, 1934 Tinnerman May 5,1936 Stockstrom June 6, 193.6 Grindle Oct. 7, 1941 Stoddard Sept. 8,1942 Bing Sept. 15, 1942 Cook Dec. 12, 1944 Rogers Jan. 20, 1948 HadenNov. 9, 1948

